Rome Derby Ends Up All Square

Unlike the Manchester derby there was no winner in the Eternal City derby as Roma and Lazio drew 1-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Hernanes gave Lazio the lead in the 16th minute and he had the chance to double their lead early in the second half when he missed a penalty.

Roma levelled from the penalty spot through Francesco Totti and were given a numerical advantage when Giuseppe Biava was sent off in the 66th minute, but they failed to make the most of the extra man and had to settle for a draw; ultimately a fair result.

However, the point does neither side much of a favour in their respective push for a place in Europe next season.

Roma launched an early assault on the Lazio goal with Erik Lamela testing Federico Marchetti twice in the first few minutes.

Lazio weathered the storm, though, and a moment of inspiration from Hernanes gave them the lead in the 16th minute.

He received the ball at what seemed to be a safe distance from goal, but his arrowed shot into the top left-hand corner confirmed the opposite with Maarten Stekelenburg well beaten.

The goal gave Lazio confidence and Antonio Candreva tried to replicate from distance, but Stekelenburg got down to save at the second attempt.

Totti tested Marchetti again at the other end, but the Biancoceleste went into the break with a deserved lead.

They could have doubled it early in the second half too, but Hernanes sent his penalty wide after Senad Lulic handled the ball.

He could have been the visitors’ hero with a second goal on the night, but shortly after, he became the villain when he committed a foul on Miralem Pjanic inside the penalty area.

Totti was more precise from the penalty spot, beating Marchetti to bring Roma level.

The pendulum swung back in Roma’s favour and Totti nearly gave them the lead in the 64th minute, but Marchetti saved before denying Alessandro Florenzi on the rebound, and the Roma midfielder then lifted the second rebound over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Biava was given his marching orders for a second yellow card, but paradoxically, Roma seemed to suffer more from having an extra man.

They were unable to impose themselves on the game and, apart from a Totti free-kick which was saved low down by Marchetti, they never looked like grabbing a winner as Lazio ended the game on the attack.